Skandapurana 6.3.182.21

6.3.182.21

aṣṭādaśasahasrāṇi nocurvai kiṃciduttaram .
aṣṭādaśasahasreṣu bhṛgukopabhayānnṛpa .
uktaṃ ca tālakaṃ haste yasya tasyedamuttaram .. 182.21 ..

Eighteen thousand gave no reply at all. / Among the eighteen thousand, out of fear of Bhṛgu's anger, O king, / it was said: "He who holds the palm-leaf document in his hand—his is this answer."